Power Of Prayer

May 06, 1990|By E.C. Galfer.

BARRINGTON — Prayer is folly? Those who believe in prayer are not more intelligent than ``primitive people who could once have attested to the value of making sacrifices to volcano gods``? Come on, Stephen Chapman. In your column ``Does freedom of religion excuse a child`s death?`` on April 19, you certainly have relegated prayer to the dust heap of inconsequential experiences.

From what I`ve read, I`m certain that the Christian Scientist Twitchells did not believe that their child was in a life-threatening situation. They also do not appear to be unintelligent faith healers martyring their child to make a religious point. You have made a broad and virulent attack on them, their religion and everyone who prays.

What a shame, then, that each year over 50,000 children die while under medical care. Perhaps all of those medical practitioners should be prohibited from caring for children, or prosecuted as criminals as the Twitchells.